After listening to Five Iron Frenzy's last album (Our Newest Album Ever) for the umpteenth time I thought, "They will never top this."
And while they didn't top that feat of ska-manship, they come pretty darn close in their latest release, Quantity Is Job 1.
The guys (and one gal) of FIF have continued to wow and amaze their multitude of skanking fans with their original lyrics and phenomenal blend of third wave ska.
Of the songs on the EP, the best by far is "Dandelions." If this song doesn't melt your heart, you must not have one. The imagery of a little boy bringing a handful of dandelions as a gift to his mother is such a powerful way of showing how God must feel when we present our "dandelions" to him. The opening with the harmonized horns is beautiful, and the horns continue to shine throughout this song.
Another memorable tune is "Get Your Riot Gear." Reese has outdone himself on this one. The lyrics are an expose against the use of excessive force by the Denver Police Department in the riot following the 1998 Super Bowl. (In the liner notes, Reese thanks the DPD for the tear gas grenade, and even invites the listener to express his or her concerns to the department. By the way, if the song moves you, then send an email to the DPD at [email protected].) It is, in my opinion, the best protest song against police brutality since Chicago's (actually, in those days they were known as the "Chicago Transit Authority") song on the Chicago riots in 1968. This song also has the coolest bass and guitar intro that sets the eerie stage for the story being told.
In addition, "My Evil Plan to Save the World," the EP's opening number, features Dennis Culp's superb trombone playing and also highlights an interesting idea behind the lyrics (read the liner notes on this one).
Of course Five Iron can't stay serious for long, and numbers like "The Untimely Death of Brad" (based on an internet rumor that Brad had died), "These Are Not My Pants," and "When I Go Out" show off their crazier style. And you can't leave out "Sweet Talkin' Woman," a fantastic tribute to the Electric Light Orchestra original. It is a lot of fun and actually sounds something like ELO (especially the BGV's)!
The few negative points of the disk had mostly to do with the lyrics of two songs. On the song "All That Is Good," Lenore's (Jeff the girl's) lyrics are meaningful, but not quite as finely honed as Reese's, while the song "One Girl Army" was too obscure for me. I'm still not quite sure what this one means.
However, overall I'd recommend doing whatever it takes to buy this album. (within reason, of course!). You won't regret it.
4/5
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #75Reviewed by Brian Vincent McGovernAlways susceptible to snappy titles and cool music, the band is still loaded to the gills with energy, as is evidenced by their rigorous touring schedule and the wild enthusiasm displayed at each show. This EP finds the band with increased tightness and more texture and variety in the horns. Lyrically, the band is still clever, but pointed. Songs like "One Girl Army" are such great songs in…The Lighthouse Unsorted 1999Reviewed by Rhonda EudalyFive Iron Frenzy is back with the follow-up to Our Newest Album Ever!. Quantity Is Job 1 is perhaps misnamed, as the band has produced a quality project that's a bit short on quantity, with only eight real tracks and one rock opera. But fear not, Five Iron fans - it is enough. For those who still aren't certain about the whole ska thing, this is a great project to cut your teeth on. Five Iron…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Aaron BellIn an effort to single-handedly flood the market, Five Iron Frenzy has put on a new disc with their brand of quality music, solid lyrics, and edgy sarcastic humor. A member of the big three Christian ska bands (along with the Insyderz and Supertones), Five Iron Frenzy continues to make music that is comparable to many of its secular counterparts in quality and ability. This album shows some…ReAL Magazine 1998Reviewed by Kevin D. HendricksOnly Five Iron Frenzy would release a 16 track EP and call it Quantity is Job 1. Thankfully it comes at the price of an EP. Of those 16 songs, you get six legit songs and a bunch of... well, Five Iron being themselves. Included in the goofiness is the eight-part rock opera, "These Are Not My Pants." Of the legitimate songs, there's not a loser in the bunch. Goofiness starts things off with "My…Similar sounding releases
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